Randy Orton: The Beginning

Randy Orton made his debut in WWE on April 25, 2002 on a SmackDown against Hardcore Holly. The victory led to a series of matches with Holly, and becoming a fan favorite.

During the Draft in September, Orton was brought to RAW, where he defeated Stevie Richards in his RAW debut.

But his promising career took a devastating turn when he was sidelined with a shoulder injury.

The entertaining side of Orton came out while on injury when he introduced the world to the Randy News Network, a segment in which Orton would come onto the screen and keep everyone up to date on his recovery status.

Upon his return to the WWE, Orton went from being a fan favorite to a self centered heel. This role led Orton to become a member of the most impressive and decorated faction in WWE History: Evolution.

Randy Orton: The Evolution Era & The Beginning of The Legend Killer

When Orton returned from injury, he was instantly placed alongside two of the best in the business: Ric Flair and Triple H.

Along with Batista, the group became known as "The Evolution of Professional Wrestling" or just simply Evolution.

While with the group, Orton went on to garner one of the longest Intercontinental Championship Reigns in WWE History. Holding on to the belt for 210 days.

With Triple H and Ric Flair by your side, you know that you are destined for greater things. For Orton, being Intercontinental Champion was great, but he knew that his time was coming.

Following his return to take down Kevin Nash and Shawn Michaels as a masked man, Orton earned a victory over, future WWE Hall of Famer, Shawn Michaels at Unforgiven. This victory was also the first time that Orton's famous moniker, "Legend Killer."

At the end of the summer in 2004, Randy Orton had arguably his biggest victory in his career when he defeated Chris Benoit at Summerslam to become the youngest World Heavyweight Champion in WWE History, a mark that still remains to this day.

However, with every triumph comes tragedy as Orton's championship celebration was short lived.

The End of Evolution and Beginning of Rated RKO

The biggest night of Orton's life would turn into the worst night of his life, as Triple H executed a dangerous plan that would see the elimination of Randy Orton from the Evolution stable.

The way he was eliminated is what started the war that we see today between Triple H and Orton.

After Batista dropped him with an Electric Chair Drop, The Game busted him open and delivered a huge Pedigree to finish the deal.

A week after the war, Orton spit in The Game's face and acknowledge that his path to greatness would be his own.

Despite losing the gold to Triple H soon thereafter, Orton never stopped coming after The Game.

In the process of his quest to regain gold, he helped in lead Batista away from the wolves that had took him down the year before.

But Orton went after Batista and the gold, only to not only come up short, but also suffer yet another shoulder injury in the process.

And after being denied the chance to end Undertaker's streak at WrestleMania, and being taken down by Taker again a short time later, no one knew what the next move of the Legend Killer would be.

Insert Edge.

After both men were denied the right to be champion, Edge and Randy Orton united to form Rated RKO.

Their mission: To flat out destroy Triple H and for one of them to become Champion. In the process of the war, Orton never got his chance to lay claim to the WWE Championship nor the World Heavyweight Championship.

It wasn't until after the dissolution of Rated RKO and the injury to John Cena late in 2007 that Randy Orton's moment would finally arrive.

Voices lead to The Age of Orton

In the fall of 2007, John Cena was set to face Randy Orton for the WWE Championship at No Mercy.

Unfortunately, Cena suffered a torn pectoral muscle that would force him out of action for quite some time. Because of that, he was also forced to relinquish the WWE Championship.

The night of the PPV, Orton was awarded the Championship by default, only to lose it just moments later after Triple H.

Due to his war with Mr. McMahon, Triple H was forced to defend the gold against Umaga. Thanks to Umaga, Orton was able to easily regain the championship before the night was over.

This was the official start of The Age of Orton.

The Age would continue through the remainder of 2007 and into the first half of 2008, garnering many impressive victories during that time with wins over Chris Jericho, Triple H, Jeff Hardy and John Cena, respectively.

Orton also outlasted both Triple H and John Cena at WrestleMania 24 to walk out of Florida with the WWE Championship still intact.

Unfortunately, The Age of Orton was put to sleep the next month at Backlash as Triple H regained his spot as the Alpha Dog in a Fatal Four Way Match.
Orton would keep the pressure on The Game, but it was at One Night Stand that Orton's quest would be put on hold once again.

Orton not only lost the Last Man Standing Match at ONS; he also suffered a broken collarbone that would sideline him for the better portion of the year.

The Genesis of Legacy

Though on the sidelines, Orton played the perfect face/heel role during his Mic Wars with Mike Adamle. The two continued to find new and interesting ways to one-up each other during Adamle's tenure as GM of RAW.

Shortly after Adamle's departure from the position, Orton returned to the ring to face the man he put on the shelf a few months before: CM Punk.

Thanks to the interference of Ted DiBiase, Orton's return was a losing one. But that didn't stop him from making an impact in the form of punting DiBiase in the skull for his trouble.

A short time after his first match back, Orton decided to enlist his own version of Evolution onto the WWE Universe. Alongside Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase, Orton unveiled his version a few weeks before the 2009 Royal Rumble.

This faction, known as either The Legacy or simply Legacy, would help Orton win the 2009 Royal Rumble and ensure that he would be in the main event at WrestleMania.

Unfortunately, Orton fell short of his goal to become the WWE Champion once again. In the process, his actions over the last few months made him a marked man in the eyes of the McMahon Family.

Undaunted, Orton continues to be a huge part of the WWE Championship picture. And with the help of his Legacy members, he is poised to enter the Summer with the world on his shoulder.